Many people go to Las Vegas a few times and unless they are serious gamblers they have enough of it, others keep going back. I happen to be part of the second group, even though I rarely gamble, maybe a $20 every now and then, nevertheless I love it there. Having lost count of how many trips I’ve made, I’ve had the chance to try out a large number of the hotels. Here are my favorite ones and the reasons I prefer them:
The Venetian
You probably know of it, it is a gorgeous luxury hotel, located on the strip, with a great spa, numerous pools and a delicious room service menu. There are quite a few more posh hotels in Vegas, but what puts the Venetian among my favorites is the variety of shops and restaurants within the resort which make it possible to enjoy a relaxing getaway without having to leave the property if one so chooses. At the same time it is located on The Strip in the middle of the essential Vegas bustle, with all other entertainment within a close radius. Another bonus, they have always offered me complementary late check-out without even having to ask!
The Wynn
Another luxury hotel, although in a very different style from the grandeur of the Venetian. Rooms here have a contemporary design in-sync with the architecture of the building. The resort is home to probably the most sumptuous buffet in the city and a variety of really good restaurants. One of the reasons I love the Wynn is that the valet, reception and room elevators are conveniently located very close to each other and away from the casino floor. Aside from the tower rooms the resort also has private casitas which overlook the golf-course. For a long time their casino was smoke free but unfortunately that has changed. One thing that hasn’t yet changed, self-parking is still free unlike at many other hotels in town. The Wynn is home to my absolute favorite Las Vegas show, “Le Reve”.
The Palms
It is composed of three different buildings with rooms ranging from standard to super luxurious suites. The property is located a few miles from The Strip but that is one of the reasons I like it, it’s close enough to easily get to the center of it all, but just far enough to keep crowding away. Their third building Palms Place does not have a casino which makes getting in and out of the building a lot easier and really a great place to stay on a business or personal trip. They offer valet parking of course, but their self-parking has one of the shortest and easiest access to the room elevators; it is also free. They have Brenden Theaters on the property, a concert venue, a club, a good variety of restaurants and even a recording studio where some pretty famous people have laid tracks.
Green Valley Ranch Resort
It is actually located out in Henderson, a suburb of Vegas, about a 15 minute drive from The Strip, so really it’s not for someone who wants to be in the middle of the action. It is a beautiful hotel, with a very nice garden and pool. I would say it’s great for families. I like staying here when I go hiking and I know I’ll be spending most of my time on the outskirts of Vegas. It’s also my hotel of choice on longer road trips, when I am only staying in Vegas for a night passing through. There is a shopping plaza near the hotel, The District, and across from it a Cheesecake Factory and a Whole Foods.
JW Marriott in Summerlin
This hotel is located in Summerlin a neighborhood in the north-western part of town. It is a somewhat older hotel, and although the rooms are updated it doesn’t have the flashiness of the newer Marriott located on The Strip. Why is it among my favorites? It is a beautiful property, with a golf course and gardens, the rooms are more spacious than most standard hotel rooms and some of them come with their own patio, the pools, surrounded by palm trees have an inviting tropical feel. Summerlin is probably the most affluent neighborhood in Vegas or at least one of them. It is a good choice for those trips when the schedule includes minimal plans on The Strip or none at all, as the drive could take anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes depending on traffic.
